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01 November 2008

3 reasons to still avoid cholesterol (even though it's not bad for you)

More than 50 years have gone by since it was first discovered that too much LDL cholesterol in the blood is linked to heart disease, and, in response, healthcare professionals of all kinds have provided a simple message: "cholesterol is bad".(1)

More recent research, however, tells a different story -- that eggs, liver, shrimp and lobster are not the demons they were once thought to be.(1) Most people who eat these cholesterol-rich foods will find they have little or no impact on blood cholesterol levels.(1) This is good news for the average man who eats 337 milligrams and average woman who eats 217 milligrams daily.(2)

Why then do the American Heart Association and many informed healthcare professionals still recommend intake of cholesterol be no more than 300 milligrams?(2)

Reason 1: Dietary cholesterol comes from animal foods usually along with saturated fat.(2) Both saturated fat and trans fat have a significant impact on higher amounts of LDL cholesterol in the blood.(2)

Reason 2: The body produces about a gram of cholesterol a day, all it needs.(2) Extra cholesterol from the diet is unnecessary and must be removed from the body via the liver.(2)

Reason 3: Cholesterol intake can have an impact on blood LDL cholesterol levels in certain individuals.(2) Thus, those with high blood cholesterol should be conscious of this fact.(2)

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About Me

I'm a science and health writer based in the Gilbert, Ariz., with a passion for good food combined with a good story. My background is in science communications with a master's of science degree in human nutrition and a bachelor's of arts degree in English. I've written for a variety of publications including Scientific American, Outside Online, the American Society for Nutrition's Nutrition Notes Daily, and the Institute of Food Technologists' Food Technology print magazine. I'm an active member of several respected organizations including the National Association of Science Writers and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. I'm also interested in wildlife conservation and am a member of the National Audubon Society and the American Society of Naturalists.